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Table 2 Variable Definitions and Reliability Scores

From: African-American crack abusers and drug treatment initiation: barriers and effects of a pretreatment intervention

Measure

Definition

Response Category

Chronbach alpha

Treatment Motivation

   

Problem Recognition

Awareness of drug problems as measured by items adapted from the Problem Recognition scale of the TCU Motivation for Treatment Scales [38]

9 items

Yes = 1, No = 0

0.82

Desire for Help

Awareness of intrinsic need for change in drug use and interest in getting help is measured by items adapted from the Desire for Help scale of the TCU Motivation for Treatment Scale [38]

7 items

Yes = 1, No = 0

0.72

Treatment Resistance

Perception of difficulties in being in treatment and resisting use [37]

4 items

Yes = 1, No = 0

0.47

Lifetime Treatment Episodes

Reported number of times been to treatment in lifetime

1 item Continuous

 

Readiness for Treatment

Desire to go to drug treatment, and how soon individual would want to go

2 items

Precontemplation = Do no want to or want to go 6+ months from now

Contemplation = Want to go 1–6 months from now

Preparation = Want to go in next 30 days

 

Readiness to Change Alcohol Use

Desire to change alcohol use

2 items (same categories as above)

 

Readiness to Change Crack Use

Desire to change crack use

2 items (same categories as above)

 

Years of Crack Use

Number of years since first crack use to baseline

1 item

Continuous

 

Psychological Functioning

   

Depressive Symptoms

Significant problems with depressive symptoms reported in the past 90 days adapted from the GAIN Depressive Symptoms Scale [37]

5 items

Yes = 1, No = 0

0.88

Anxiety

Significant problems with symptoms of anxiety reported in the past 90 days adapted from the GAIN Anxiety Symptom Index [37]

3 items

Yes = 1, No = 0

0.77